ROGERS, ROY
(1911–1998)
ROGERS, ROY (b. Leonard Franklin Slye, Duck Run, Ohio, November 5, 1911–July 6, 1998) An influential singing COWBOY and movie star, Rogers founded the Western group THE SONS OF THE PIONEERS, who served as his backup band from 1934 until 1948. This smooth-harmony vocal group did muchto modernize the cowboy sound and style. The son of migrant farm workers, Leonard Slye came to California in 1930 to pick fruit. He began performing with a number of Western bands, founding his own group, The Sons of…